Lightning To Host Fan Fest Sunday At Tampa Bay Times Forum

TAMPA, FL - JULY 13: The Tampa Bay Times Forum is seen on July 13, 2012 in Tampa, Florida. Tampa will play host the 2012 Republican National Convention at the Forum August 27-30 where the party is expected to officially pick former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as their nominee to face President Barack Obama in November in the general election. The convention will host 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five territories as well as scores of journalists, guests and protesters. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

File photo. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Bolts to Welcome Fans Back to Arena with Autographs, Open Practice

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning will welcome fans back to the Tampa Bay Times Forum with Fan Fest this Sunday, January 14, pending ratification of the tentative collective bargaining agreement recently agreed upon by the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players Association, as the team prepares to open its landmark 20th NHL season.

The 2013 Lightning Fan Fest is free and is open to the public. The doors will open at 9 a.m. Fans should park in either the Forum East or Forum West Lot and enter through the main entrance. Lightning players will sign autographs for fans from 10-11 a.m. They will then head back to the locker room and get ready as Guy Boucher will lead the first practice of the season from 12:30-2 p.m. Between the autograph session and practice there will be commentary provided by Bolts management, coaches and broadcasters. ThunderBug and the Lightning Girls will also be on hand.

Season Ticket Members will receive a number of benefits just by wearing their STM jersey. They will receive free parking as well as exclusive autograph opportunities on the Club Level. Fan Fest is also a great opportunity for Season Ticket Members to redeem their loyalty and rewards program benefits or pick up their STM jersey if they haven’t done so already.

In addition to meeting the team and watching the first practice of the season, those in attendance will have the first opportunity to purchase single-game tickets. They will receive 50 percent off select Lightning merchandise at open merchandise stores throughout the event and have access to food and drink specials. There will also be enter win contests throughout the event.

The Lightning will be hosting a 20th Anniversary Warehouse Sale with game-used equipment to benefit community hockey and those in attendance will get their first look at the Times Forum’s new $5 million center-hung scoreboard, the largest in an arena in the United States or Canada, in action. There will also be a kids’ zone where ThunderBug will be taking photos with members of his Kids Club (free to sign up).